Category Archives: Pour Homme

“Hair, teeth, hands, and feet,” was his response, “that’s all I have to work with!” The question: What is in that little bag you have in the bathroom?

That bag contained a hairbrush, a toothbrush, tweezers, and a straight razor. To my surprise it also contained nail clippers and a nail file. “Have you ever received a manicure?” “No.” Needless to say, this man was happy that his girlfriend became a manicurist.

Since becoming a manicurist I have given many men their first “manEcure” and pedicure. Surprisingly, all of them seemed amazed at how much they enjoy the service, the improvement of their hands and feet, and the desire to make the services part of their regular maintenance. A gentleman’s manicure and pedicure makes a man feel good. Men don’t have to only enjoy a haircut and shave anymore. Even if they like the idea of having nice hands and feet, men are more likely to slack on the upkeep so I suggest they keep a few items handy for between services. G.E.A.R by Tweezerman has a great “Essential Grooming Kit” that is perfect for men. It has almost everything I suggest to my male clients to keep in the bathroom drawer. The kit contains a heavy-duty nail clipper and their new multi use tool that can be used for filing so there are no more jagged nails! You can also use the tool for cleaning under the nails, which should be done regularly for sanitary reasons. The same tool can be used to push back cuticles which will keep nails looking neat and clean. All of this is best done after a shower so that nails and cuticles are softer and easier to manage, and takes maybe 10-15 minutes per week. The kit also contains facial hair scissors so keeping mustaches and eyebrows neat between shaves and visits to the barber is at your fingertips. It may even let you extend the time between shaves.

The other thing the man should do is keep a pumice stone in the boudoir. G.E.A.R also has a double sided stone for rough and soft exfoliations: Perfect to fight those stereotypes of men having rough/dry feet and hopefully bring on some foot massage exchange!

For regular evening application I suggest getting a cuticle cream or oil such as Cuti-Cocktail or Cuti-Quench by Sparitual which can be used around finger and toe nails, and a great lip balm like Facial Fuel No Shine Moisturizing Lip Balm by Kiehl’s is great for kissable…I mean manly lips.

Hey Fellas! Want to know how to get a woman’s attention without speaking or even exchanging looks? It’s all about the aroma! A nice smelling cologne has the power to bring the strongest to attention. A nice cologne is a must-have for any man, especially for that man that still wants to keep Ms. Right’s attention. Tom Ford has an abundance of fragrances that will suit any man’s taste and natural pheromones. Whether you’re an outdoors type of guy or always suited for the office, there is a fragrance with your name on it.

Cheap cologne will do completely the opposite or will have that same woman running the complete opposite direction of you. Any woman worth keeping will appreciate a man’s fine fragrance. Neimanmarcus.com features all the flavors to meet your desires.

For my Modern Man…

Tom Ford is a fragrance that screams luxury and is for our refined gentleman who prides himself in seduction and sophistication. The wood fragrance combines sensuality and modern influences, creating exactly what a scent catering to a man should be.

For my Rebel…

Limited edition Tom Ford Extreme is for the man who marches to the beat of his own drum. This Beauty Award 2010 nominee reflects any man with impeccable style. The fragrance is blended with Persian lemons, Black Italian figs and Patchouli. This fragrance is an icon for masculinity.

For my Simple Guy…

If cologne is not for you don’t sweat it! Neroli Portofino is a fresh body spray designed specifically for you. It features crisp citrus oils, fresh waters and hints of floral. Leaving you feeling fresh, clean and desirable. This scent is lighter but vibrant and will leave you feeling confident.

It is said that smell is the sense most strongly tied to memory, and while humans may forget a date or a name, we never forget a smell. How true have you found this to be in life? For myself, it has proven to be an unwavering fact that my mind cannot forget a smell. From my grandmother’s hugs (a miscellany of Nantucket Briar powder and Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds) to the sweet smell of ripe strawberry patches from my childhood in Germany, everything dear to me is cataloged by smell. Given this information, it would come as no surprise that I am obsessed with fragrance.

I’m not one of your average Macy’s, box-set, run-of-the-mill fragrance shoppers. I tend to gravitate toward more “niche” fragrance experiences like Creed, Annick Goutal, Diptyque, Bond No.9, Jo Malone, and Tom Ford. Be it ostentatious in price, or bargain basement, a unique smell is what I’m looking for. I’d recently run out of my “every day” scent, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily by Jo Malone, and was in the market to try something new. Now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have my “every day” fragrances… and then I have my “special occasion” fragrances… and Jo Malone has been my “every day” fragrance house of choice for a while. On any normal occasion, I’d take a stroll down Bleecker Street to visit Jo Malone and Diptyque, and try out a few samplers. HOWEVER, it is New York City, in the middle of summer, so getting on the disgustingly sticky subway and bumping into sweaty tourists was not even remotely interesting to me. There had to be a better way.

A few days later, while on Instagram, I was noseying around on the #fragrance hashtag and came across a picture of these tiny little cylinders lined-up in a macron box. On first glance, I almost mistook them for chic cigarettes! Further reading led me to the Instagram page of Commodity Goods, where I started on a journey that has made me re-think the way I shop for fragrance.

Commodity Goods describes itself as “an online scent tailoring service,” allowing you to create a scent profile on their website, test a sample of the fragrances at home, and then order the full-size versions of the ones you love. How awesome is this? No more walking through a headache-inducing conundrum of fragrance misting, coffee beans, screaming children, and aggressive sales people only to take home a generic-smelling fragrance that 4,567,895 other people also own. No thanks. Commodity Goods was luring me in with their promise of being able to experience a custom shopping experience right from the comfort of my Snuggie, and I took the bait.

A few days later, I received my package of fragrances… 10 for men, 10 for women. Now, I know you’re asking me why I ordered the women’s kit, and my answer is simple: Smell is neuter. I don’t assign a gender to smells… never have. I truly believe that one should wear whatever makes one feel confident and at peace, but enough of my personal politics. I opened my kits and got down to the business of smelling! Now, with each “set” of fragrances comes a scorecard of sorts. As you smell, you use the hearts next to each fragrance to indicate how much you love it. Each day I wore two fragrances… one from the men’s collection in the morning, and one from the women’s collection in the evening… that way I could truly experience how they reacted with my body chemistry.

As to be expected, some of the fragrances I really loved, and others I was indifferent to… but none of them were bad, which is impressive when you have a collection of 20 different fragrances! Getting to sample unique smells like “cloth” and “wool” and “mimosa” was stimulating and challenged my notions of what I thought these things could smell like. For instance, book smells EXACTLY like a book… but shouldn’t books smell musky and dank? How were they able to perfectly capture the smell of a book, yet make it attractive to our nose? I don’t know, but it is freaking genius.

After experiencing all 20 fragrances, the highlights for me were:

MEN’S
[ ] Cane
[ ] Whisky
[ ] Gin

WOMEN’S
[ ] Paper
[ ] Mimosa
[ ] Dew

In fact, I found myself mixing them! The combination of Cane + Whisky is very dark and sensual and masculine. I felt like Joe Manganiello chopping down a tree or something when I mixed those two together. Something about them really compliments each other. Same for Paper + Mimosa; they come together for such a fresh smell that made me feel like a groomed gentleman of cultured tastes.

Everything about my Commodity Goods scent tailoring experience was exceptional… from the design of the website, to the amount in the sample tubes, to the quality of the fragrances. Nothing was short of exceeding my expectations. I think that their collaborating with a French fragrance house that has been developing scents for 160 years shows in the product that arrives at your door. In trying to find an “every day” scent, I have managed to stumble upon a revolutionary idea that suits the lifestyles and the tastes of this generation. Commodity Goods has made my “every day” a special day.

So you have found that perfect suit and you have listened to your bride-to-be complain about every intricate detail of her gown. So grooms, it’s your time to customize your look.

A man with a suit and a nice tie has the potential to mesmerize any woman. Fellas, a high-quality tie will always do the trick. Even Oscar Wilde said, “A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.” A quality necktie will be made of silk, so don’t get caught out there in a cheap look-alike. Don’t be afraid to try out different styles of ties or knots. Today, men are wearing suits with a fitted cut. I can guarantee a skinny tie with an Eldredge knot will give you that custom look you can’t wait to rock again. Be careful of multicolored and patterned ties; unfortunately those types of patterns may contradict the knot, causing you to look disheveled. Below you will find a few different knot ideas that will look great for your big day or any day. Don’t let her steal the show entirely; show off your individual style and try an exotic new knot.

The Eldredge knot will grab everyone’s attention. It will remind you of a braid, but it will without a doubt spice up your look.

The Trinity knot looks amazing on almost any necktie. It has a three-way symmetry and is a great conversation piece.

The Cape knot is perfect for those multicolor ties. If your necktie has colors or a pattern, this is the one for you.

There are few days in the average man’s life where he will be photographed by more cameras than a Kardashian leaving a posh hotel: your wedding day is one of those days. Too many times, I’ve seen a groom get an immaculate haircut, looking amazing from the scalp up, yet completely neglect the rest of his face. I’m talking dark circles around the eye, untrimmed nose and brow hair, redness and pimples, jagged nails—the works! Fellas, listen, your wedding pictures are FOREVER. It would be in your best interest to look like a perfectly coiffed gentleman for these pictures that will hover on your coffee table for the rest of your life. Lucky for you, I have assembled a list of 4 items that you can use to prepare for the big day, helping you sort out the little details that are often overlooked by the groom.

[1] Exfoliating

I cannot begin to tell you how important maintaining your skin is. It is the largest organ on your body, and it is not shy about telling on you! A great way to improve the texture and complexion of your skin is by exfoliating. I recommend the Foreo LUNA for Men. The LUNA for Men is a facial cleansing device that sends sonic pulsations through its silicone tips, pulling up dirt and softening the skin. This device is essential for all the shavers out there, as it helps prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn. The best part is that it requires essentially no maintenance, as one charge gives you 450 cycle of use, and the silicone head never needs replacing!

Ask any beauty-obsessed woman that you know and she will tell you that serums are the secret to life. Serums are perfect for grooms who are looking for a low-maintenance, yet effective, way of getting antioxidants and moisture in one fell swoop! A great option is the M-61 Hydraboost Hydrating Vitamin B5 Peptide Serum. The Hydraboost serum contains Vitamin B5, which acts as a humectant, drawing moisture from the atmosphere into the skin. The serum also contains tamarind, which helps to firm the skin, and aloe & centella asiatics which calm irritations (it’s perfect for applying after a shave!). Best of all, the serum is oil-free, which makes it perfect for those of you who are prone to breakouts, or who have oily skin.

Getting a close shave is harder than one may think. We are constantly having to try new devices that promise to give us faces as smooth as a baby’s backside, but few seem to deliver. “Enter stage left”: Gillette Fusion ProGlide with Flexball Technology. The Flexball Technology is new to Gillette’s razor design and is a feature I have been waiting for my entire life! Because of the special pivot-and-swivel design of the cartridge head, the razor is able to glide both vertically AND horizontally across the contours of your face. This provides a smooth and close shave that I have not been able to get from any other drugstore razor ever in life.

I’m sorry to kill your fantasy that all men are perfect, but we aren’t. Every single man that you see on TV, from ESPN to Food Network has on a full face of makeup! Surprising, huh? Well, it’s true. Those boyish-Clooney-esq complexions are easy for you to achieve if you have an open mind. The use of a little concealer, in moderation, can give you a cleaner and more polished look for your wedding photographs. My favorite concealer for men is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. The NARS concealer is perfect for men because it doesn’t require multiple steps. For most concealer, you have to use a brush, apply the concealer, blend it out, then set with powder. This NARS one takes out all of those steps. You simply swipe it where needed, tap it with your ring finger a few times to blend it, then you’re DONE! The concealer formula does not need to be powdered, and it stays in place all day! The best part is that it comes in 10 shades, so, literally, EVERY man is able to find a shade that suits him.

In an amalgamated vision of an actor, George Clooney is what Hollywood represents as its finest. Dashing, mysterious and seductive, Mr. Clooney charms us into the realization of what it means to be a movie star. A definition confirmed by the visual aesthetic of said profession. We now ponder, “What will Mr. Clooney wear as he walks down the aisle, taking the lovely Amal Alamuddin as his bride?”

Looking at George Clooney’s style, we think classic, simple and elegant are definitely the right formula! If we scratch at the surface of Mr. Clooney’s style, we observe that he plays it safe and certainly loves comfort. The wonderful thing about him is that character dressing works! I think, because of his well-groomed salt & peppered coif, when looking at him we can’t help but to think about the likes of Cary Grant, William Holden or Gary Cooper. George is most dapper in his fashion editorials, a la Vanity Fair, Esquire and W Magazine. In these highly stylized depictions, we see him come alive – embellished, understated, and timeless. In comparison, George Clooney’s red carpet looks exhibit an archetypal edit of uniform menswear. So who should dress Clooney for the wedding? Hum…

I would narrow it down to three contenders, maybe four: Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton, Brenden Mullane at Brioni, Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce or Ozwald Boateng. My choices are clear. We want to see a polished Clooney play with color and/or texture without compromising fit. So there you have it.

Message to George: It’s about time… Congratulations!

About the author Mario Wilson: We were honored to have him agree to write this piece on one of the world’s iconic actors. We asked him to give us a bio. He humbly had this response to share:

I am an artist first, a visual artist, who views Fashion Styling as a medium, and when I have exhausted that medium I will choose another. Within this career, I have had a few moments which match my idea echelon. Working with Samuel L. Jackson, Alan Cumming, Steve Harvey, John Leguizamo, Liza Minnelli, Regina Hall, Naomi Campbell, Zoe Saldana and others, styling for Essence, Ebony and Jet Magazines. I’ve assisted greats like Patti Wilson and Edward Enninful. Interviewed Michael C. Hall of Dexter, the hit HBO series. Creating some of the most beautiful advertisements for Dark and Lovely, and I have styled daytime TV program fashion segments for GMA. A few others, however, I have not attained the career I imagined as of yet, and although this may seem defeating, I continue to strive for this dream.

Walking down the down the aisle may be one of the most nerve wrecking parts of the entire wedding experience. For my grooms, the butter flies start way before the I do’s! Did you forget about the engagement ring process? What about the wedding band? YES it is a process. No groom wants to let his bride to be down or worse be rejected because he choose the most awful ring on the plant.

Lucky, I have complied things to consider in choosing a ring she will rant and rave over for years to come. In choosing a ring you must consider a diamond and a setting. While picking the perfect diamond consider size and quality. You must choose a shape and cut. The cut refers to how the diamond reflects light, while the shape refers to the appearance. There are an array of shapes to consider from heart, circle, or square.

Jewelers may push you to make a decision quick. Consider the fact they are all salesmen but take your time, this is a emotional piece that will last beyond a lifetime. Deciding on a setting your bride will love will ensure you get the best for your money. A nicer ring is far from cheap, but consider this an investment that should scream quality and value.The grid above will help you make the best decision on that special diamond. Below you will find some amazing wedding bands! Sapphire is becoming more popular and it is a great choice if you are on a budget. Thanks to our good friends at Tiffany and Co. located at 727 5th avenue. They let me try on some amazing bands and a few beautiful rocks.